satsuma

the man across the aisle wore the tallit beneath his jacket
I noticed as he stood up and I saw the knotted fringe.
I hold Jewishness in a curious kind of awe
so many rules to govern the simplest things in life.
he munched hungrily on a tuna sandwich
the noise of his eating and snuffled breath reverberating in the 'quiet' coach
then peeled a satsuma and the sharp citrus tang tickled my nostrils.
I awoke from a fitful sleep as we reached Euston
to see him folded uncomfortably into the tiny space
his knees tucked up against the seat in front.
it seems there was no rule pertaining to that.

Corsica

Dear Agnes
Thank you so much for popping in to water the aspidistra for me this week, George was annoyed at himself for forgetting about it before we left. The trip has been quite an experience. It is so hot I am wilting, even in the shade. George bought a straw hat which looks utterly ridiculous but he seems to think it gives him a continental air. My new sandals have rubbed a blister on my little toe but I am hobbling on regardless. I do hope you've got that problem with the porch light sorted out.
With love,
Bernice

Isle of Man

Dear Agnes,
The crossing was fine, considering. I walked George three times round the deck to ward off the seasickness; I'm a seasoned traveller as you know but he did complain for quite a while and then we settled down in the restaurant to share a bacon butty. I must say it felt a bit like going abroad but once we got here it was just like England. I let George have kippers for breakfast yesterday morning and then wished I hadn't, his breath smelt something awful, so today we kept to cornflakes. 
Wishing you were here.
With love,
Bernice

Dear Agnes

Dear Agnes
We are in Torbay for the week, recommended by the doctor, for George to get some sea air. It has been so blustery and the poor palm trees on the front have been battered almost to death. My scarf blew off, you know, that lovely mauve silk one that mother gave me her last Christmas, and we chased it right down onto the sand, where it landed in the sea, fortunately the tide was incoming at the time. I hope Bernard is feeling better and not keeping you up at night like the last time.
With love
Bernice


(Returning to 100 Words in preparation for NaNoWriMo. Inspired by a postcard at work, just the name and the place it had come from and decided to do a series of 'postcard' messages.)

Letters

all we had
thoughts and desires entrusted to paper
consumed, sniffed, caressed, secreted
the words less important 
than the piece of paper
mundanities savoured with anticipation
'how was work'
'I thought of you'

now boxed and bound
quelled, extinguished
passion tempered by reality
but kept
so that in my dotage 
I might relive the way it felt
to be in love


(Linking back to The Poetry Jam where the theme is 'Letters'. Visit for more contributions.)